Public invited to hear results of tannery site testing

Meeting is Tuesday, April 24 at Rockford Freshman Center

Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) workers perform tests on the ground water of the former Wolverine tannery site on December 15, 2011. The EPA, the Michigan Department of Environmental Quality and Wolverine Worldwide spokespersons will discuss the results of the testing, how the results will be used, and what comes next at a meeting to be held Tuesday, April 24 at the Rockford Freshman Center. Testing began in October 2011 and continues.

Those who have had concerns over the environmental safety of the former Wolverine tannery site will have the chance to hear about the results of testing conducted by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

On Tuesday, April 24, the EPA and Michigan Department of Environmental Quality (MDEQ) officials will meet with the public from 7 to 9 p.m. at the Rockford Freshman Center cafeteria, 4500 Kroes Street, Rockford. According to Dave Novak, EPA community involvement coordinator, the public meeting is to discuss and update the community on work and assessments being done at the former Wolverine tannery site in downtown Rockford. The tannery was demolished in 2010 and the site is adjacent to the Rogue River and Rum Creek. The EPA and MDEQ received a petition to investigate the site as the result of community concerns regarding potential environmental impacts on the two bodies of water.

During the meeting, the EPA and MDEQ will discuss the purpose of the assessment, the roles of both the state and federal agencies, and what the results of the assessment will determine and how the results will be used. The EPA, MDEQ and Wolverine will give presentations on their activities to date. There will also be an opportunity for questions and discussion during the meeting.

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